Boiler-tube-cleaning machine



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 eb- -l4 1 5 J. M CARTY BOILER TUBE CLEANING MACHINE Dec11 1923.

Dec. 11, 1923.

E. J. MCCARTY v BOILER TUBE CLEANING MACHINE Filed Feb. 14 1.922 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 11 1923.

E. J. MOCARTY BOILER TUBE CLEANING MACHINE Filed Feb. 14, 1.922 4SheetsSh eet 3 Dec. 11, 1923. 1,476,901

- E. J. M CARTY BOILER TUBE CLEANING MACHINE Filed Feb. 14, 1.9224'Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 11, 1923.

UNITED STATES EUGENE J. MCCARTY, 0F CLINTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOILER-TUBE-CLEANING MACHINE.

Application filed February 14, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE J. MoCARrY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Clinton, in the county of Worcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Boiler-'Tube-CleaningMachine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for cleaning boiler tubes.

The present invention involves the use of a cleaning device combinedwith poweroperated means for performing the cleaning operation with itand simple mechanical adjustments by which the device is moved from onetube to the other and centered. With this invention the time requiredfor the cleaning of a boiler is reduced very materially.

The invention involves a frame mounted so as to be capable of movingalong on the floor in front of the boilers, a vertically adjustablesupport thereon for the scraper, a power operated feeding device for thescraper, automatic reversing mechanism for changing the direction offeed, and other features of importance as will appear.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which i Fig. 1 isan end elevationof a boiler tube cleaning machine constructed inaccordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail view showi'ngmeans for supportingthe frame from the truck on which it'is mounted;

Fig. 1 is a plan on enlargedscale of the mechanism mounted on' saidframe for op erating the scraper;

Fig. 5 is a front view of the same;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a plan of part of the reversing device removed from the restofthe machine; p

F ig. S is a sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 4 showing most of themechanism in elevation;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the means for directlyoperating the scraper taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 4, also showing thedriving means in elevation;

Fig. 10 is a side view'of apart of the same;

Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Fig. 12 is a detail view of a. detachable connection for the scraper;

Serial No. 536,576.

Fig. 13 is a plan of the same;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 12, showing the other element of theconnecting device;

Fig. 15 is a plan of the other elements showing the same parts also asin Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged front elevation of part of the frame showingparts in section;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view on the line 17-17 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a sectional view on the line 18l8 of Fig. 16 showing theratchet mechanism;

. Fig. 19 is a sectional View on the line 19-19 of Fig. 4:;

Fig. 20 is an enlarged end elevation of a guiding means between theframe and the operators platform; and

Fig. 21 is a sectional view on the line 212l of Fig. 20.-

I have shown the invention as comprising a base in the form of .awheeled truck consisting of front and rear axles 10. The front one can.be provided with a tongue 9 or any desired means for drawing the truckalong the floor. The two axles are connected together to form a completetruck by a rectangular frame 11 consisting of pieces of pipe or rodsconnected together by ordinary pipe connections, and this constitutesthe bottom of the frame of the device. The rest of the frame comprises.

frame 11. To locate these fittings 18 on the truck the latter isprovided with four upwardly extending pins 8 which project up into thepipe fittings so as to centerthem and fix them accurately in position.The

uprights 12 are provided with pipe fittings 13 at the top to connectthem with a top frame 14 corresponding with the frame 11. All theseparts are preferably in the form of piping or rods rigidly connectedtogether by pipe fittings and they constitute the main frame of thedevice.

Slidab'le up and down on the four uprights 12 are four tubes 15 havingat their tops pipe fittings 16 which are connected with each other byfour members constituting a rectangular cross frame 17. This frame 17supports the main parts of the device and is slidable up and down theuprights 12. It is supported by two chains 18, or other flexibleconnections, passing over sprocket wheels 19 fixed on a longitudinalshaft 20 journalled on the frame 14lat the top, and preferably at thecenter thereof. The sprocket chains passover these wheels and extenddown on the opposite side. The shaft 20 is provided with a hand wheel 21thereon for rotating it, and with a ratchet wneel 22 also fixed thereon.This ratchet wheel has a strong spring pawl 23 mounted on one of thepipes constituting the frame 14g and capable of swinging into and out ofoperative aosition. \Vhen in the position shown in ig. 17 it preventsthe descent of the frame 17, but the latter can be raised either byturning the hand. wheel or by pulling on the loose ends of the twochains 18.

In addition to the ratchet wheel 22 the shaft 20 is also provided with asecond one 24.1 This has a gravity pawl 25 pivoted on a lever 26 pivotedon the shaft 20. This lever '26 has a long handle extending down andsitions as the operator is likely to he in places where it would: beinconvenient for him to reachthe hand wheel. The operator normallystands on a platform 27 carried by a metal frame 28 secured at the topto the frame 17. This frame 28 is provided with grooved rollers 29engaging two of the uprights 12 and guiding the platform in its motionup and down with the cross frame 1'? .to which its upper end'isconnected.

The frame 17 is provided with a pan: of.

guide tubes 31 large enough to surround the tubes of the frameandcapable of-slid'ing thereon.- These tubes carry a supporting frame 32extendingacross from one-of the longitudinaltubes ofthe frame 17 to theother; This constitutes a means for supportiingmost of the mechanism.

On the underside of' t'he guides 31 are bosses 70 havingbearings for across shaft 71 onv which isv aliand wheel 72. On the shaft are toothed.wheels 73 surrounding which and supported by the shaft are invertedU-shaped brackets 74 which carry guard plates 75. The wheels 73 meshwith a pair of fixed horizontal chains 76 carried by-hooks-TT second tothe opposite ends of the frame 17. By-turning the hand wheel 72 thewhole supporting frame can be adjusted along the chains 76.

suspended from the frame 32 is a motor casing 33 in which there is amotor. the shaft 34 of which has a pinion driving a gear. 36. This gearis mounted on a shaft 37 on which is a gear 38. This gear drivestwogears 39 in opposite directions, one of them directly and the otherthrough a pinion 40. These gears 39 are on two shafts 4- mounted on thesupporting frame 32 in bearings 44c. These two shafts 41 are rotated inopposite directions constantly when the power is turned on the motor atthe switch 79. Each one has freely rotatable on it a toothed wheel 17.Two clutches :42 are provided each with a yoke 1-3 for connecting thewheels with the respective shaft and disconnecting them therefrom. Theseyokcs are slidable on the shafts 4;]. freely.

Pivoted at a point 15 on this frame 32 a lever 46. This has two armsAll), each provided with a plate 4-8 carrying the two yokes When thelever is swung in either direction from the neutral, it will connect oneShaft 11 with the power through the clutch thereon and cause one of thepair of sprocket wheels at? to be rotated. Each of the sprocket wheelsis fixed on a sleeve 17 freely rotat able on one shaft 41 and isconnected to it by the respective clutch. \Vhen the clutch is Jul: ofoperation these wheels are loose on their respective shafts.

These wheels are provided with teeth which are adapted to engage inperforations 50 in the top of an operating device com prising a seriesof links 01. llarh of these links is of inverted U shapc constructionwith the perforations 50 through its center as indicated by Figs. 9, 10and 15. The links are connected with each other by pintles 52 and itwill be obvious from the arrangement shown that while each link can be.swung downwardly from the main portion of the device, they cannot beswung up wardly. This operating device rests on a table 5?) whichconstitutes part of the frame or is supported by it. it the ends thcvalso pass over supporting non-friction rollers 54 for an obviouspurpose.

The end link 56 of this operating device is longer than the others andprovided with a headed projection 57, the head 58 of which is flattenedso as to he received in a slot 59 in the shank 60 of the brush orscraper ()1 which is to be inserted in the boiler tubes to serve as acleaning member therefor. This slot 59 has an enlarged opening 62 at atits inner end to provide a key hole slot for receiving the head 58. Inorder to attach the scraper to the operating device the scraper with itsshank is turned up lo the dotted line position in Fig. I4 and inserted.then swung over into horizontal position.

This operating device consisting of the links 51 and connected parts.constitutes part of the cleaning device and rests on the plate 53 and isguided through two guides 63. Each of these guides has a hand screw G lso that a curved tubular guide 65 can be secured in it. In the formshown this is placed on the right, but it can be placed on the otherside if the machine is to he used the other way around. This curvedguide is used merely for the purpose of keeping the operating device inproper place for use without taking up much room. It is shown asconstituting more than a complete circle, and with the end of the deviceconsisting of one or two links extending through it when the scraper isin the fine. As it is drawn out these links are contained in the curvedguide.

This operating device is provided with a reversing mechanism shown inthe form of a reversing stop 66 mounted on the device at a materialdistance from the projection 58 which is the other reversing stop. Theyare adapted when moved up far enough to engage one end or the other of asliding plate 68. This plate is slotted at the center and into the slotextends a pin 69 on the extreme end of the lever 46. The operatingdevice,'being moved by power and one of these pairs of stops engagingthe slide 68, will cause the lever 46 to swing on its pivot 45 anddisengagethe clutch that is already engaged and put the other clutchinto action. This results in stopping the device and reversing it,'andthe action is automatic at both ends, so that the operator can leave themachine running and it will force the scraper back and forth through thetube as long as it may be necessary. These stops 6'6 and 58 can be madeadjustable or arranged at the proper distance apart to cause the scraperto reciprocate the length of a boiler tube.

The operation of the machine is very sim ple. The whole machine is movedup in front ofthe boiler by hand and the cross frame 17 raised orlowered so as to bring it at the proper height for cleaning the firsttube to be cleaned. The supporting frame on it is moved back and forthto adjust it to the center of the tube, then the motor is turned on andthe handle 46 moved from neutral to the position for moving theoperating device and scraper toward the boiler. Nothing further need bedone until the repeated recip'rocations of the scraper have thoroughlycleaned the tube,-then the handle is turned to neutral position, themotor stopped, and either the frame moved vertically or the supportingframe horizon tally, or both, to bring the scraper into registrationwith the neXttube and the operation is repeated. The way of operatingthe various adjustments has been described in full and need not bementioned here.

By the use of this machine the backbreaking job that is a periodicaldread for the boilerroom crew is practically eliminated, its timeisreduced very materially, and the number of men used on it also very muchreduced. At the same time there is no dange'ro'f the cleaning job beingslighted, and a thoroughly clean set of boiler tubes is the result. Thissaves in the consumption of coal. The machine is so small that it can bestored in any ordinary boiler room. By

the old method it was common toback off the scraper end so as to make itwork easily, but with the power cleaning machine it is possible toexpand the scraper so that a man by his own strength cannot push itthrough the tube. By expanding it to the proper amount a thoroughcleaning is ensured and the scraper can be pushed through withoutdifficulty.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of theinvention I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made thereinby any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of theinvention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to belimited to all the details of construction herein shown and described,or to the use of an electric motor instead of some other power foroperating the device, but what I do claim is 1. In a power operated fluecleaning machine, the combination of a frame having supporting wheelsmounted thereon, a movable flue scraper or cleaner, means on said framefor guiding the motion of the flue scraper or cleaner, and an operatorsplatform adjustable up and down said frame and extending the length ofthe frame at a level below that of said guiding means.

2., In a power operated flue cleaning ma chine,- the combination offrontand rear shafts, each having a plate extending up wardly therefromhaving bearings for the shafts, and each having two pins extendingupwardly from their upper surfaces, wheels on which said shafts aresupported, pipes fitting over said pins and constituting uprights, topand bottom frames rigidly connected to said uprights to form a mainframe,

and means on said main frame for cleaning or scraping flues.

3. M a boiler flue cleaning machine, the combination with aframe, of amotor supported on the frame, a pair of shafts adjacent the motor, meansconnected with the motor for constantly driving said shafts in oppositedirections, a pair of toothed wheels each rotatably mounted on the axisof one of said shafts, means capable of clutching either toothed wheelto its shaft, but not both of them at the same time, a boiler fluecleaning device mounted on said frame in position to be operated by saidtoothed wheels, each of said toothed wheels being arranged to rotatefreely on its shaft when not clutched thereto, said frame having atransverse track and said flue cleaner comprising a series of linkspivoted together at points below their centers and having squareshoulders projecting upwardly from the pivots and supported by saidtrack, said links having perforations equally spaced on one surface sothat the teeth of the sprocket wheels will engage said perforations toopcrate the flue cleaner.

' main frame having a plurality 4. Ina machine for cleaning boilerflues, the combination. with amain frame, a fine scraper, a support forthe flue scraper, a shaft on the main frame having a plurality ofsprocket wheels thereon, a corresponding number of chains supportingsaid support and passing up over the sprocket wheels, whereby saidshaftcontrols the elevation of the flue scraper, a hand wheel on saidshaft for rotating it, a ratchet wheel fixed on the shaft, and anoperating handle swivelled on it and depending from the shaft providedwith a pawl for engagrin;- the ratchet wheel and operating the shaft.

5. In a machine for cleaning boiler lines, the combination with a framecomprising tvo pairs of uprights, of a corresponding number of tubesslidable vertically on said uprights, a rectangular cross frame carriedby said tubes, a flue scraper, means on the cross frame for guiding theflue scraper, a longitudinal shaft at the top of the frame having aplurality of sprocket wheels there on, acorresponding number of chainssup portingsaid cross frame and passing up over the sprocket wheels,whereby said shaft controls the elevation of the cross frame, a ratchetwheel lined on the shaft, and asprin'g pawl mounted on the main frameandengaging the ratchet wheel to antomatically hold the shaft againstrotation in a direction to lower the cross frame.

(3. In a machine for cleaning boiler llues, thecombination with a mainframe, of a frame supported thereby, a flue scraper can ried by thesecond frame, a shaft on the of sprocket wheels thereon, acorresponding;' number of chains supporting said second frame andpassing up over the sprocket wheels, where-- by said shaft controls theelevation of the second frame. a ratchet wheel fixed on the shaft, aspring pawl mounted on the frame and engaging" the ratchet wheel toautomatically hold the shaft against rotation in a direction to lowerthe second frame, a second ratchet wheel fixed on the shaft, a leverpivoted to the shaft and d pending therefrom, and a pawl on the leverfor once 1 the second ratchet wheel and therebvl'urning the shaft in adirection to raise the sec ond frame when the lever is oscillated. 7. Ina machine for cleaning fines of boilcrs and the like, the combination ofa portable framevcomprising a series of uprights, a flue scraper, meansadjustably mounted on the frame for guiding the flue scraper, a pair ofsupports depending from the frame having rolls for engaging theuprights, and an operators platform mounted at the bottom of saidsupports.

8. In a boiler flue cleaning machine, the combination of a portableframe, a pair of rods extendingalong it at equal distances apart. a pairof tubular guides, one on each rod, a supporting frzme carried by theguides, a pair of horizontal chains arranged in fixed position on theportable frame between said rods, a shaft supported by the supportingframe and having two sprocketwheels each meshing with one of saidchains, whereby the rotation of said shaft will move the supportingframe along the rods, and flue cleaning device carried by thesupporting; frame.

9. In a. boiler flue cleaning: machine. the, combination with a frameand a cross frame adjustable thereon, of a motor supported by the on, ,sframe, a pair of shafts adjacent the motor, means connected with themotor for constantly driving said shafts in opposite directions, a pairof toothed wheels each rotatably and freely mounted on parallel axes,means capable of clutching cihcr toothed wheel to one shaft but not bothof them at lhe same time, and a boiler flue cleaning dvice supported bysaid cros: frame in position to be ope 'aled by said toothed wheels.

10. In a boiler flue cleaning: machine, the combination with a frame anda cross frame vertically adjustable thereon, of a motor supported by thecross frame, a pair of shafts adjacent the motor, means connected withthe motor for constantly driving said shafts in opposite directions, apair of toothed wheels each rotatably mounted on the axis of one of saidshafts, means capable of clutching either toothed wheel to its shaft,and a reciprocable boiler 'l'lue cleaning device mounted on said. crossframe. and having depressions for receiving? the teeth of both of saidtoothed wheels, whereby the rotation of either wheel will move thecleaning device along.

ll. In a flue cleaning machine, the combination of a supporting frame, aflue cleaning device guided and rcciprocablc on said frame and providedwith depressions in its surface, a pair of toothed wheels niounted inalignment so as to engage ca'mstantly in said depressions, a motor, andmeans connected with the motor for operating one of the toothed wheelsat a time and turning them in opposite directions. whercby one toothedwheel when positively connected with the motor will move the fluecleaning device in one direction and the othe under the some conditionswill more it in the other direction.

in a lluc. cleaning machine, the cou] binetion of a supporting: frame.with a cleaning device comprising a E'FtllOH of links pivoted togetherand guided on said frame, said links having depressions, a pair oftoothed v nhecls in alignment with each other, both of which engage insaid depressions, means for driving said toothed wheels in oppositedirections and for discoimcctin; each of them when the other 'sconnected to be driven, whereby one wheel will move lllll the cleaningdevice in one direction and the other in the opposite direction.

13. In a boiler flue cleaning machine, the combination with a portableframe and a cross frame vertically adjustable thereon, of a motorsupported on the cross frame, a pair of shafts adjacent the motor, meansconnected wit-h the motor for constantly driving said shafts in oppositedirections, a pair of toothed wheels each rotatably mounted on the axisof one of said shafts, means capable of clutching either toothed wheelto its shaft, but not both of them at the same time, a boiler fluecleaning device mounted on said cross frame in position to be operatedby said toothed wheels, each of said toothed wheels being arranged torotate freely on its shaft when not clutched thereto, said frame havinga transverse track and said flue cleaning device comprising a series oflinks and supported by said track, and having perforations equallyspaced on one surface so that the teeth of both sprocket wheels willengage said perforations to operate the flue cleaning device.

14. In a flue cleaning machine, the combination of a supporting frame,with a cleaning device comprising a series of links pivoted together andguided on said frame, means for reciprocating said cleaning device, anda curved movable tubular guide having means whereby it can be connectedto either side of said supporting frame for receiving the links andguiding them in a curved path beyond the frame.

15. In a flue cleaning machine, the combination of a supporting frame,with a flue cleaning device comprising a series of links pivotedtogether and guided on said frame,

means for driving said links inopposite directions one of said linkshaving a transverse projection thereon, and a flue scraper having on theshank thereof a key shaped open ended slot for receiving said projectionand detachably connecting it thereto.

16. In a flue cleaning machine, the combination of a supporting frame,with a flue cleaning device guided on said frame, a pair of wheelsadapted to engage the flue cleaning device for moving it, means fordriving said wheels in opposite directions and for disconnecting each ofthem when the other is connected to be driven, whereby one wheel willmove the flue cleaning de- 'vice in one direction and the other in theopposite direction, said flue cleaning device having reversing stopsthereon at a distance apart, and means in position to be operated bysaid reversing stops alternately for disconnecting the' operating wheelfrom a source of power and connecting the other wheel thereto, wherebythe direction of motion of the cleaning device is reversed.

17. In a flue cleaning machine, the combination ofa guide and support, aflue cleaning device comprising a series of links pivoted togethersupported thereby, a motor, a pair of wheels loosely mounted and adaptedto engage the'flue cleaning device for operating it, means whereby saidwheels rotate only in opposite directions, said means comprising twoclutches, one for each wheel, a lever for operating said clutchesconstructed to connect one wheel to the motor when turned in onedirection and to connect the other one when turned in the oppositedirection from neutral, a slide connected with said lever, and stops onthe flue cleaning device for engaging the opposite ends of said slide,whereby the continued motion of the flue cleaning device after suchengagement will movev the slide and thereby turn said lever todisconnect the wheel previously in operation and connect the other wheelto move the flue cleaner in the opposite direction.

18. In a flue cleaning machine, the combination of a guide and support,a flue cleaning device, a motor, a pair of wheels loosely mounted andadapted to engage the flue cleaning device for operating it, twoclutches, one for each wheel, a lever for operating said clutchesconstructed to connect one wheel to the motor when turned in onedirection and to connect the other one when turned in the oppositedirection from neutral, a slide connected with said lever, and stops onthe flue cleaning device for en gaging the opposite ends of said slide,whereby the continued motion of the flue cleaning device after suchengagement will move the slide and thereby turn said lever to disconnectthe wheel previously in operation and connect the other wheel to movethe flue cleaner in the opposite direction.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

' EUGENE J. MoCARTY.

